Politics

The Defiance of Marjane Satrapi

The author of the best-selling graphic memoir Persepolis, who died last week, made rebellion into a lifelong project.

Vance refers Minnesota officials to DOJ over fraud

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that he had referred allegations involving Minnesota state officials to the Department of Justice’s new Fraud Division for a possible criminal investigation into fraud and misconduct within the state’s taxpayer-funded healthcare and social service programs.

Ken Paxton’s ex-lawyer endorses rival James Talarico in Texas Senate race

Attorney Dan Cogdell backs Paxton’s Democratic opponent and says the Republican is too focused on appeasing Trump

Think Musk the billionaire was bad? Brace yourself for Musk the trillionaire

Becoming the world’s first trillionaire is only going to supercharge this sense of impunity and bring us one step closer to full-blown oligarchy

Being Black in Pete Hegseth’s Military

The secretary of defense is sending the message that Black service members are not welcome.

The Americans Shelling Out Five Figures for a Coat of Arms

A nation founded on the rejection of aristocratic traditions still yearns for them.

The spectre of gen z socialism is haunting the world … according to the Economist

The magazine writes: ‘Resisting Gen-Z socialism is therefore an urgent task.’ That urgency must outweigh any urgency of feeding hungry people

‘A man of great appetites’: what’s it like to be a dictator’s personal chef?

In an often chilling new documentary, the chefs of brutal leaders from Idi Amin to Saddam Hussein, talk about their unusual lives behind the scenes

Serial rapist ex-NFL player transferred from prison to halfway house

Darren Sharper, who pleaded guilty or no contest to raping women in four states, is projected to be released in 2028

Trump ‘inventing fraud’ in California, experts warn as president ramps up baseless claims

Critics say president using well-worn playbook – with loyalists in key positions ready to amplify his message

Washington's Monuments Are Coming Back. So Is American Memory

In the 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, the idealistic young congressman’s first steps in Washington, D.C., are through the doors of Union Station, where he is greeted by the Columbus fountain and, beyond it, the Capitol dome.

Religious liberty at 250: America’s most radical idea

In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.